Air Fryer Turkey Thighs
The air fryer is a great way to cook up juicy and tender turkey thighs with crispy skin! Learn how to make Air Fryer Turkey Thighs with your air fryer or Ninja foodi for a main course to serve with any side dish!
Turkey is a popular dish during the holidays, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it year-round. Whether you are hosting a holiday dinner or looking for an easy weeknight main course, air fryer turkey thighs are the perfect solution when you enjoy dark meat but don’t want to cook a whole turkey.
Cooking turkey thighs in the air fryer is great for many different reasons. It’s quick and easy; the air fryer creates crispy skin on the outside with tender and juicy meat inside. It makes meal prep a breeze, meaning it is ideal for busy weeknights when you don’t have the time to cook something more complicated.
Plus, it takes just minutes to throw together, and air frying means it’s healthier than traditional deep-fried recipes!
🦃Ingredients and Tools
- Turkey Thighs – You’ll want turkey thighs that are 1.5-2 pounds each. They can be bone-in or boneless.
- Cooking Oil – You can use olive oil or melted butter to brush on the turkey thighs to help seal in the moisture and crisp up the skin.
- Dried Thyme – Adds a fresh herb flavor to the turkey thighs that make them warm and comforting.
- Seasonings – A blend of salt, pepper, and garlic pepper helps balance and enhance the natural flavor of turkey.
- Air Fryer – Any air fryer will work for this recipe. We enjoy using the Ninja Foodi because it’s multifunctional and reliable.
- Heat Safe Tongs – The turkey thighs will get very hot in the air fryer, so make sure to use heat-safe tools for handling and flipping the turkey.
📖How To Cook Turkey Thighs In Air Fryer
1️⃣Prepare the turkey thighs: Pat the turkey thighs dry with a paper towel and trim off any excess fat. Let the turkey thighs sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to take the chill off from the fridge.
2️⃣Preheat the air fryer: Turn your air fryer to 375°F and let it preheat for 3-5 minutes.
3️⃣Brush the turkey thighs with oil: Brush the skin of the turkey thighs with olive oil or melted butter to help get a beautiful golden brown finish.
4️⃣Season the turkey thighs: Sprinkle the dried thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic powder over each side of the turkey thighs.
5️⃣Cook the turkey thighs: Place the turkey thighs in the air fryer basket skin side up and cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. For extra crispy chicken thighs, flip again and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
6️⃣Check internal temperature: Check to make sure that the internal temperature of your air fryer turkeys has reached 165°F before removing them from the air fryer.
7️⃣Rest & Serve: Let your air fryer turkey thighs rest for 5-10 minutes before serving so the juices can redistribute, and it’s safe to eat. Enjoy!
👩🍳Chef’s Tips
- Make sure to pat the turkey thighs dry before air frying. This will help the air fryer crisp up the skin and create that beautiful golden finish.
- To get even more crispy skin, turn your air fryer to 400°F for the final 3-5 minutes of cooking time.
- It’s important to let the turkey thighs sit at room temperature before air frying. This helps the air fryer cook evenly and prevents the proteins in the meat from getting tough.
- Layer the turkey thighs in one single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even airflow and cooking. Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, or the turkey will steam instead of air frying.
- How long to cook turkey thighs in air fryer depends on the wattage of your air fryer and how large your turkey thighs are. Use a kitchen thermometer to check the internal temperature at the thickest part to ensure it’s safe enough to eat.
🍗More Air Fryer Turkey Recipes
Air Fryer Turkey Thighs
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Turkey Thighs 2 pieces
- 1 tablespoon Butter or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Pat the turkey thighs dry with a paper towel and trim off any excess fat. Let the turkey thighs sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to take the chill off from the fridge.
- Turn your air fryer to 375°F and let it preheat for 3-5 minutes.
- Brush the skin of the turkey thighs with olive oil or melted butter to help get a beautiful golden brown finish.
- Sprinkle the dried thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic powder over each side of the turkey thighs.
- Place the turkey thighs in the air fryer basket skin side up and cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. For extra crispy chicken thighs, flip again and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
- Check to make sure that the internal temperature of your air fryer turkeys has reached 165°F before removing them from the air fryer.
- Let your air fryer turkey thighs rest for 5-10 minutes before serving so the juices can redistribute, and it’s safe to eat. Enjoy!
